Color inhibitor



case of gasolines containing Patented Feb. 23, 1943 2,311,929 COLOR rron Joseph A. Chenicek,

Universal Oil Products Company, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application September 30, '1940, Serial No. 359,080

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for preventing depreciation of hydrocarbon distillates of motor fuel boiiing' range, and particularly to gasolines which may be exposed to the action of sunlight and which may or may not contain added quantities of tetraethyl lead to improve the antiknock value.

In many instances motor fuels are dispensed through pumps having large storage bowls wherein the motor fuel is visible to the purchaser end, as which, may be exposed to' sunlight for various intervals of time. Many gasoline's when so exposed develop a cloudy, milky appearance and a sediment separates which discolors the bowl rendering it unsightly in appearance. Moreover, this tendency toward haze formation is sometimes greatly increased in gasolines containing added tetraethyl lead. Since a major portion of pres ent day gasolines contain tetraethyl lead, this problem becomescmore serious, partly because of the sediment which separates, partly because of the appearance and partly because depreciation of knock characteristics of fuel so exposed for long periods of time may occur. It is an object of the present invention to prevent or at least minimize the tendency of such gasolines to form haze in sunlight,

In one specific embodiment the presentinvention comprises a method for preventing haze formation in gasoline exposed to sunlight by adding thereto a minor quantity of suifurized glycerides, either in the presence or absenceof added g'um inhibitors.

Motor fuels which may treated according to this invention may comprise straight run, natural, cracked or polymer gasoline, -or blends thereof in varying'proportions. These gasolines mayor may not contain added quantities of antiknock agent such as tetraethyl lead, and in the oleflns, may have added thereto various gum inhibitors to prevent the formation ofgum and other undesirable oxidation products during storage period. Phenolic gum inhibitors and gum inhibitors composed -of' fractions of hardwood tar distillate, especially those boiling within, the range of approximately 240-280 0., are of particular value when used in conjunction with the haze inhibitor of the present invention. I

The color inhibitors, which are sulfurized Chicago, 111., assignor -to Chicago, 111.

'giycerides, are prepared by heating vegetable or animal oils such as fish oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil and the like with minor quantities of sulfur. The oils used have the propertiesof semi-drying oils. The amount of sulfur added may vary to a certain extent, but is ordinarily of the order of approximately 10% by weight of the oil and is in any case less than by weight of the oii.

The temperature oi heating is normally approximately 150 C. and the heating is carried out for a period of approximately 1-6 hours. The exact amount of sulfur and the exact time of heatingis diificult to specify, in view of the fact that the oils vary. Thus it is important that the heating and the amount of sulfur be such that the oil after a treatment remain in the formof a viscous liquid.

If too much sulfur is added, a rubbery mass re- 5 limit the invention, but merely to indicate certain satisfactory preparations. For other samples of oils having somewhat different properties or for oilsfrom different sary to vary the quantities still further.

The amount ofmateriai added to the gasoline .is normally within the range of approximately 0.000l-0.05% by weight of the gasoline treated, and is usually within the range of approximately 0.001-0.0l%.,

The sulfurized oils may be added to gasolines as solutions in part of the gasoline or other hydro-.

carbon oil in order to facilitate handling.

The following example is given to illustrate the usefulness of the invention but should not be interpreted as limiting it to the exactconditions or compounds shown.

In making the haze inhibitor 25 was added to 250 gr. of menhadenaoil and the mixture heated at C. for 5 hours. The oil, after this treatment, was viscous, dark red in color and soluble in gasoline. Thi oil was used to inhibit a, Pennsylvania cracked gasoline and a Pennsylvania straight run cial gum inhibitor was used in a portion of the tests. The gasoline was exposed to sunlight in sources, it may be necesgr. of sulfur gasoline. A commerof haze was noted. following table.

' acid glyceride 4-ounce glass bottles and the gasoline was examined at regular intervals until the appearance The results are shown in the The gum .inhibitor was added in an amount of 0.01% and the sulfurized fish oil in amount of 0.001% by weight of the gasoline.

Haze time, minutes I claim as my invention: 1. A method for preventing gasoline exposed to sunlight haze formation in which comprises adding thereto, approximately 0.0001-0.05% by.

weight of a-sulfurized glyceride of a high molecular weight fatty acid. g

2. A methodfor preventing the formation of haze ingasoline by adding thereto approximately 0.0001-0.05%'"-by weight of a sulfurized fatty derived from the group consisting of animal and vegetable oils.

3. A method for preventing haze formation in gasoline comprising adding thereto; approxi- 'mately 0.0001-0.05%4 glyceride containing fish by weight of a sulfurized oil;

'7. A method for preventing haze formation in gasoline which comprises adding thereto approximately 0.0001-0.05% by weight sulfurized glyceride-containing fish oil containing not more than approximately 10% by weight of sulfur.

8. A- method for preventing haze formation in gasoline upon exposure to sunlight which comprises adding thereto approximately 0.0001- 0.05% by weight of a sulfurized glyceride of a high molecular weight fatty acid containing not more than approximately 10% by weight of sulfur and a gasoline gum inhibitor.

4. A method for preventing haze formation I in gasoline by adding fthereto approximately -0.0001-0.05% by weight of a sulfurized glyceride containing vegetable oil.

5. A method for preventing haze formation in gasoline upon e osure to sunlight whichcomprises adding ereto approximately 0.0001- 0.05% by weight of asfilfurized glyceride of a high molecular weight 'fatty acid wherein the amount of sulfureis not more than approximatev ly 20% by weight of the glyceride.

6. A method for preventing haze formation in gasoline upon exposure to sunlight which com-' prises adding 0.05% by weight of a sulfur'ized glyceride .of a

thereto approximately 0.0001

high molecular weight fatty acid wherein the sulfur content is not more than approximately 10% by weight of the glyceride.

- a gum inhibitor high molecular weight fatty acid in the amount 9. The process of claim 8 wherein the gum inhibitor is added in an amount less than approximately 0.1% of the motor fuel. I

10. A method for prevening haze formation in gasolines containing added antiknock agents which comprises adding thereto approximately 0.0001-0.05% by weight of a sulfurized glyceride of a high molecular weight fatty. acid containing not more than approximately 10% by weight of sulfur. t

, 11. A method for preventing haze formation in gasolines containing added antiknock agents upon exposure to sunlight which comprises adding thereto approximately 0.000l-0.05% by weight of a sulfurlzed glyceride of a highmolecular weight fatty acid containing not more than approximately 10% by weight of sulfur and a gasoline gum inhibitor. I

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the anti-** knock agent is tetraethyl lead.

13. A method for preventing'haze formation in gasolines containing added antiknock agents; upon exposure to sunlight which comprises adding thereto approximately 0.0001-0.05% by weight of sulfurized glyceride-containing fish 011 containing not more than approximately 10% of sulfur.

14. Motor fuel comprising gasoline containing a sulfurized glyceride of a high molecular weight fatty acid in the amount of approximately 0.0001-0.05% by weight of the gasoline.

15. Motor fuel comprising gasoline containing and a sulfurized glyceride of a of approximately 0.0001-0.05}% by weight of the gasoline. v t

16. Motor fuel comprising gasoline containing an antiknock agent, a inhibitor, and a sulfurized glyceride of. a high molecular weight fatty acid in the amount of approximately JOSEPH A. CHENICEK. 

